Bringing a baby into the world is often portrayed as a time of joy and excitement, but for many South African mothers, the reality is far more complex. Postpartum depression (PPD) affects an estimated 1 in 3 new mothers in South Africa, yet many suffer in silence due to stigma, lack of awareness, and limited […]
Postpartum Depression: Why So Many Suffer in Silence Read More »
Anaemia is a global health challenge impacting many pregnant women and their newborns. According to the World Health Organization, anaemia affects around 40% of pregnant women globally, with even higher rates in developing regions such as South Africa, where two out of three expectant mothers have low iron levels and one in three is anaemic.
Maternal anaemia: 2 out of 3 South African expectant mothers at risk Read More »
With the holiday season comes the excitement of family gatherings, visits from friends and festive cheer. However, if you have a new baby at home, holiday gatherings can also introduce concerns about your baby’s safety and well-being. “This time of year often brings visitors into the home, each with different levels of familiarity with infant
Managing holiday visitors: Keeping baby safe around family and friends Read More »
In a game-changing development for healthcare, parents can start building a lifelong medical record for their children from birth, thanks to a partnership between personal digital health vault Ajuda and the National Metabolomics Platform (NMP), hosted at the Centre for Human Metabolomics at North-West University. The partnership will see a baby’s newborn screening results uploaded
Keep your child’s health data – including newborn screening results – safe from birth Read More »
What can be more relaxing than a body massage, heavy workout at the gym, sitting in a hot tub or falling asleep in a moving car (being the passenger, of course)? All these experiences result from stimuli to our senses of touch and of body position. This is referred to as proprioception. When we receive
Why are newborns soothed by being contained and touched? Read More »
August marks both World Breastfeeding Week and Child Health Month, providing an ideal opportunity to explore the various factors that contribute to a child’s optimal development. This journey begins from birth, with the first five years being particularly vital for a child’s physical, intellectual, sociological and emotional growth. These early years lay the groundwork for
Feeding your little one: The great debate Read More »
Jen Spiro, an occupational therapist and co-founder of the nurtureOne™ nesting cushion, used to work in a practice that saw numerous young children for therapy. They presented with not only developmental delays but also sensory issues, requiring occupational therapy intervention. On further investigation, often identified during the history taking, the parents would inform Jen that
The fourth trimester and the sensory needs of your newborn Read More »
To give cuddles, care and plenty of nourishment… the most natural expectations of a mother are not always possible when her new baby needs hospitalisation, but breastfeeding women have an opportunity to help the newborns of other mothers with vital nutrition. Nyasha Mhuru Rukure is one such parent-in-need. Her baby boy Liam was born last
Breastmilk donation – a priceless gift Read More »
South Africa is one of the most unequal countries in the world, and this is tragically evident in the nutritional status of millions of our children. However, breastfeeding has the power to be an equaliser, ensuring no child is left behind when it comes to optimal health and development. Despite widespread promotion of the many
Advancing equity: Breastfeeding support for all Read More »
Sprout, a prominent South African e-commerce platform dedicated to enhancing family well-being, will be stocking the acclaimed Dutch-designed Difrax Pinky Pacifier as part of its infant product range. The Difrax Pinky Pacifier has garnered international recognition by winning the esteemed Red Dot Design Award, a symbol of exceptional quality in design. While most pacifiers serve